Providers report higher revenue but administrative strain after Washington’s move to rates‑based home‑visiting payments

Department of Children, Youth, and Families staff and four local implementing agencies presented early experiences and concerns after Washington moved some home‑visiting programs to rates‑based payments.

Context and timing: Laura (DCYF staff) said the department transitioned several models to a rates approach starting in state fiscal year 2025 and that eight programs were implementing rates in the most recent year. "We moved to implementation with rates, for some of our models, in state fiscal year '25," she said. DCYF staff told the committee the mean revenue change for programs moving to rates was roughly a one‑third increase in the award amount in year one (about a 33% mean increase across participating programs), though the increases varied and did not fully close gaps for all programs.

What providers said: Panelists — leaders from ParentChild+ and other community providers — described practical benefits and persistent pain points.

- Transparency and staff compensation: Fromsa, early learning program manager at Horn of Africa Services, said a bright spot was clarity in setting staff pay: "it gives us the structured and transparent way to…